Archery bow



C. A. DIEHR ARCHERY BOW Aug. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 25, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

CHARLES A. DIEZHR BY Lam ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1959 c. A. DIEHR ARCHERY BOW Filed July 25, 1956 Fig. 4.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES A. DIEHR ATTORNEY ARCHERY BOW Charles A. Diehr, Shelton, Conn.

Application July 25, 1956, Serial No. 600,100 1 Claim. (Cl. 124-24) Thepresent invention relatesto an archery bow, and has for an object to provide a bow generally constructed of light weight metal, as for instance,'aluminum alloy, and which comprises a handle section and detachable limb sections whereby the parts of the bow may be readily connected for use or disassembled for compact carrying or storage.

The draw and power of a bow is usually directly related to the bow length, the longer the bow the greater the draw and the arrow propelling force. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bow in which the length may be substantially reduced while still obtaining the power of the longer bow;

A further object is to provide a bow in which relatively light weight metal parts may be employed in the handle section and in the limb sections, so arranged that with a minimum weight a maximum structural stability may be obtained in relation to the direction of the forces and strains imposed upon the parts of the bow during drawing and release. To this end it is proposed to provide in the handle section a frame formed of strip stock of, substantially greater width-than thickness, having its width disposed in a vertical plane parallel to the direction in which the draw of the string and arrow takes place, so that the pulling force upon the handle section is parallel to the width of the strip, thus eliminating any possibility of bending and, at the same time, presenting a minimum of obstruction to the sighting of a target.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bow which is equally adaptable for use by right or left hand archers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim;

. In the drawings? Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an archery bow according to the invention, and showing the parts of the bow assembled and ready for use, the dot-and-dash lines showingtthe unbraced position of the bow limbs;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the bow;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the butt end of one of the bow limbs;

Fig;4isaside elevation thereof; i v

Fig. 5 is a fi'ontelevation, on an enlarged scale, of one end of the handle section of the bow showing the socket means carried'thereby for receiving the butt end offabowlimbit, i t

Fig.6 isa sidegelevation ofpthe end-of thehandle portion asseenin Fig.5; 1

, Fig.7 is';a side elevation of the parts illustrated in Figs. 3,-56,,1and showing the butt j'end of. the bow limb inserted ill-the sjocket means of-thehanglle section; H

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, partially in front elevation and partially in vertical section, showing the intermediate portion of the handle section of the bow with the sight means mounted thereon and in its position for use of the bow by a right hand archer;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1111 of Fig. 10; v

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a modified form of the bow according to the invention, wherein the handle sec tion has its hand grip forwardly offset to a greater extent than the forward offset of the hand grip in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the bow as seen in Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularlyto Figs. 1-12, the archery bow according to the embodiment of the invention shown therein comprises a handle section consisting of a frame member 10 in the form of a vertically disposed strip of metal, preferably an aluminum alloy, having substantially greater width than thickness, the width of the strip being disposed in a plane parallel to the direction of draw of the how so that its narrow inner edge, as seen in Fig. 2, presents a relatively small obstruction to sighting. Also, the width of the strip is opposed edgewise to the strains and forces pro- 'duced during the drawing and release of the bow, thus providing a frame of great stability and without any tendency to bend under such strains and forces.

A hand grip consisting of a pair of blocks 11-11 of hard wood or other suitable material is secured to the frame 10 by screws 12, and is positioned at an intermediate point of the frame so that a substantial length of the frame extends both above and below the hand grip. At each end of the frarne10 there is provided a socket for receiving the butt ofa bow limb, this socket comprising a channel member 13 disposed with its base at right angles and in spaced parallel relation to the inner edge of the frame 10 and rigidly connected thereto by a plurality of bolts 14, preferably three, extending between the side flanges of the channel member and through holes 15 in the frame 10, spacing sleeves 16 being interposed upon the bolts between each side of the frame and the inner sides of the flanges of the channel member.

The two bow limbs 1717, which are formed of metal strip stock, preferably aluminum alloy, are adapted to have their butt ends 18 inserted in the sockets provided by the channel members 13, the sides of the butt ends being parallel so that they fit against the flanges of the channel members and the thickness of the butt ends being such that they fit snugly between the bases of the channel members and the spacing sleeves 16. Each butt end is provided in its forward side with an open-ended groove 19 to receive the edge of the frame member, as seen in Fig. 9, thus permitting the bolt receiving holes 15 in the frame to be spaced inwardly from the edge a greater distance than would be the case if the edge of the frame were tangential to the spacing sleeves 16.

The insertion of each butt end in its respective socket p is limited by a stop screw 20 having its head projecting from the forward .surfaceof the butt end and which contacts the endof the frame 10 upon-full insertion of the butt end in the socket, the butt end beingnormally retained in the socket by the pulloffthe bow string 21in the braced position of the bow ready for use, as seen infull' ends of the bow string which are engaged in notches 23 in the ends of the bow limbs.

It is pointed out that the mounting of the bow limb receiving sockets upon the frame is such that the butt ends of the bow limbs are disposed in inwardly offset re-' lation to the inner edge of the frame ltl and to the hand grip 11, so that a substantially greater distance is provided between the hand grip and the bow string in the braced position of the bow than is the case with a conventional bow. This not only permits of greater draw with a shorter bow than is the case with a conventional how, .but so spaces the string from the wrist of the archer that string slap upon release is prevented.

An adjustable sight 24 is mounted upon the vertically extending portion of the frame between the hand grip 11 and the upper socket member 13, the sight being vertically adjustable in a vertical slot 25 in the frame 10 whereby it is adapted to be vertically positioned for distance, the sight being also laterally adjustable, as will presently more fully appear, to position it for windage.

The sight comprises a flanged stud member 26 nonrotatably engaged for sliding movement in the slot 25, its flange being engaged upon one face of the frame 10 at each side of the slot and its portion within the slot being provided with diametrically opposed flats 2727 which slidably engage the side walls of the slot to prevent rotation of the stud member. The stud member projects beyond the slot and is externally threaded as at 28 to receive an internally threaded clamping barrel member 29 which clamps against the side of the frame opposed to the flange of the stud member 26 to fix the position of the sight upon tightening of the barrel mem' ber, loosening of the barrel member permitting the sight to be raised or lowered in the slot. Preferably, the outer surface of the barrel member is knurled, as at 30, to facilitate its manual turning into clamping and unclamping relation. The stud member 26 is provided with a threaded axial passage 31 in which an elongated threaded stem 32 is engaged, this stem being provided upon its outer end with a sighting ball member 33 and having its inner end screwed into the threaded axial passage 34 of a cylindrical handle member 35, this member being engaged for sliding movement in a cylindrical bore 36 of the clamping barrel member 29.

The handle member 35 is locked to the stem 32 by a set screw 37 screwed into the opposite end of the passage 34 from the stem and bearing against the stem to lock it, so that the stem, the handle member and the set screw constitute a rigid structure whereby upon turning of the handle member 35 the threaded stem 32 is moved inwardly or outwardly through the stud member 26, thereby laterally adjusting the position of the sighting ball 33. Preferably, the outer end portion of the handle member 35 is knurled as at 38 to facilitate its manual turning, and upon its cylindrical surface inwardly of the knurled portion there are provided calibration markings 39 whereby the extent of the lateral adjustment of the sighting ball may be determined in the manner ofa micrometer. A helical spring 40 is engaged about the threaded stem 32 between the inner ends of the handle member 35 and the stud member 26 for the purpose of retaining under tension the position of adjustment of the stem and its handle member 35.

The construction of the sight permits of its ready detachment from the frame and its repositioning in the slot to dispose the sighting ball and the manipulating handle. mmeber' for either right or left hand archers. 1, 2 10 andyll'the sight is shown in its position for use by an'ght handarcher. In order to position it for a left i hand, archer it Is detached and reengaged in the slot in he opposite position.

In carrying out this operation it is only necessary tofirst remove the locking set screw 37, whereupon the handle member 35 may be screwed out of engagement with the threaded stem 32. The clamping barrel member 29 may thereupon be screwed out of engagement with the stud member 31, permitting the stud member to be removed from the slot and reengaged therein in the opposite position, whereupon the clamping barrel member 29, the handle member 35 and the locking set screw 37 are reassembled. v

In line with the slot 25 a distance indicating scale 41 is provided upon the inner edge of the frame 10, this scale being preferably in the form of a strip of gummed paper or cloth pasted about the edge of the frame. Calibration markings indicating distance are preferably placed thereon by the individual archer in accordance with distance sightings established by himself to suit his style of shooting. The flange of the stud member 31 is provided with an index marking 42 for alignment with the distance markings on the scale.

Adjacent the upper end of the hand grip 11 the frame 10 is provided with a transverse cylindrical hole 43 in which a cylindrical arrow positioning bar 44 is engaged, this bar being provided with a flat surface 45 at one side engaged by a set screw .46 screwed into the forward edge of the frame and which fixes the position of lateral adjustment of the bar, as well as prevents it from rotating in the hole 43. .Each end of the bar is provided with a recess 47 to conform to the cylindrical :surface of the shaft of the arrow 48, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 10, the arrow shaft being also engaged with the upper end of one of the blocks 11 of the hand grip. Each block 11 is provided with a feather clearance notch 50, the feathered end of the arrow being so arranged that one of the feather vanes 49 passes through the notch. The bar 44 permits support of the arrow in relation to the hand grip at either side of the frame for right or left hand archers, and its lateral adjustment permits the desired positioning of the arrow in relation to the hand grip.

In Figs. 13 and 14 there is shown a modification in which the frame 10a of the handle section is of generally C-shape to provide a forwardly ofiset intermediate vertical .portion 51, upon each side of which the hand grip blocks 11 are secured by screws 12, a lower rear-' wardly projecting substantially horizontal arm 52, and an upper rearwardly and upwardly inclined arm 53, in which the sight carrying slot 52 is provided in parallel relation to its inner edge. The socket forming channel members 13 are secured to the ends of the frame in similar manner to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-12, by means of bolts 14 and sleeves 16. With this arrangement the hand grip is forwardly offset a substantial distance from the socket forming channel members 13 and the butt ends 18 of the bow limbs 17, so that while the actual draw of the bow is substantially reduced the effect of a so-called long draw is obtained.

In Figs.

In a conventional bow a long draw of 28" or 30", for example, is obtained. by making the bow of five to six feet in length. With the present arrangement the bow may have a four foot overall length and an actual draw of about 21 /2", with a 6 /2 forward offset of the hand grip, while still obtaining the so-called long draw of 28" or-30.

What is claimed is:

In an archery how, a handle section including a vertically elongate planular frame member of greater width than thicknms disposed edgewise to the direction of draw of the bow with its central vertical plane coincident to the central vertical plane of the bow parallel to the direction of draw of the bow, a pair of socket ,Ineans respectively secured upon the upper and lower 7 ends of said frame member defining vertically disposed sockets of greater width than thickness with their width dlmenslon at right angles to the width dimension of said frame member and extending laterally an equal distance at each side of the ends of said frame member, said socket means each comprising a channel member having a base disposed in rearwardly spaced parallel opposed relation to the rearward edge surface of said frame member and side flanges disposed in outwardly spaced parallel opposed relation to the side surfaces of said frame member, and connection means rigidly connecting said flanges to said frame member, a pair of hand grip members respectively secured at the opposed sides of the intermediate portion of said frame member in vertically spaced relation to said socket means, and a pair of bow limbs having butt ends of greater width than thickness with their Width dimension at right angles to said width dimension of said frame members and removably engageable in said respective socket means, the forward and rearward sides of said butt ends being respectively opposed by said bases of said channel members and the rearward edge of said frame member, and the side edges of said butt ends being opposed by said flanges of said channel members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

